WEATHER ALERT
Juntas ruling Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso agree to create a joint force to fight worsening violence
Read full article: Juntas ruling Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso agree to create a joint force to fight worsening violenceThe military juntas ruling Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger say they have agreed to create a joint force to fight extremist violence in their nations.
Burkina Faso’s junta says its intelligence and security services have foiled a coup attempt
Read full article: Burkina Faso’s junta says its intelligence and security services have foiled a coup attemptBurkina Faso's junta says the country’s intelligence and security services have foiled a coup attempt.
Protesters attack French Embassy in Burkina Faso after coup
Read full article: Protesters attack French Embassy in Burkina Faso after coupProtesters in Burkina Faso's capital have attacked the French Embassy after the military junta in charge accused France of sheltering the ousted interim president.
Burkina Faso's ex-leader Compaore returns for crisis meeting
Read full article: Burkina Faso's ex-leader Compaore returns for crisis meetingBurkina Faso’s former President Blaise Compaore returned to the West African country Thursday, the first time since being ousted in a popular uprising eight years ago.
Burkina Faso's ex-president moved to arrest at personal home
Read full article: Burkina Faso's ex-president moved to arrest at personal homeBurkina Faso’s ruling military junta says former president Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who has been under strict house arrest since being ousted in a coup in January, has been allowed to return to his personal home.
Burkina Faso junta leader inaugurated as nation's president
Read full article: Burkina Faso junta leader inaugurated as nation's presidentBurkina Faso’s junta leader Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba has been sworn in as president Wednesday, less than a month after mutinous soldiers seized control of the West African country in a coup.
Burkina Faso's junta leader promises security, order
Read full article: Burkina Faso's junta leader promises security, orderBurkina Faso’s new military leader says he is going to bring security and order back to the conflict-ridden nation and unite the country, but warns that betrayal wouldn’t be tolerated by the new regime.
Hundreds march in Burkina Faso to show support for new junta
Read full article: Hundreds march in Burkina Faso to show support for new juntaHundreds of people have marched through the streets of Burkina Faso’s capital in a show of support for the new military-led junta that ousted democratically elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and seized control of the country.
Burkina Faso forces fire tear gas at anti-govt protests
Read full article: Burkina Faso forces fire tear gas at anti-govt protestsSecurity forces have fired tear gas at protesters barricading the streets and throwing rocks in Burkina Faso’s capital, as anger grows at the government’s inability to stop jihadist attacks spreading across the country.
Burkina Faso starts trial on killing of ex-leader Sankara
Read full article: Burkina Faso starts trial on killing of ex-leader SankaraA military court in Burkina Faso has started the trial of 14 people including former President Blaise Compaore for the killing of influential leftist leader Thomas Sankara, who was ousted as president by Compaore in a 1987 coup.
Burkina Faso humanitarian response risks lives, agency says
Read full article: Burkina Faso humanitarian response risks lives, agency saysThe Norwegian Refugee Council said Burkina Faso’s slow and insufficient humanitarian response to the country’s escalating attacks is forcing people to choose between violence or hunger.
Students in Burkina Faso fear extremists more than COVID-19
Read full article: Students in Burkina Faso fear extremists more than COVID-19Balkissa Barro, 10, center, walks to school with friends in the Burkina Faso village of Dori Tuesday Oct. 20, 2020. In Burkina Faso, worries over the COVID-19 pandemic come second to threats of attacks by extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. At Wendou school, 1,400 children use 14 hand-washing stations and no one has masks, said Dofiko Kone, the headmaster. Although they’ve now returned to class, school meals haven’t yet started and the little support he gets from aid groups is not enough to sustain them. “The children go to school but when they come back ... there is no food, there is no place to sleep,” he said.
Burkina Faso president Roch Marc Christian Kabore re-elected
Read full article: Burkina Faso president Roch Marc Christian Kabore re-electedPresident Roch Marc Christian Kabore addresses supporters in Ouagadougou after learning he will serve another five years as Burkina Faso's president, according to provisional results announced by the National Independent Electoral Commission Thursday Nov 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia)OUAGADOUGOU – Roch Marc Christian Kabore will serve another five years as Burkina Faso’s president, according to provisional results announced by the National Independent Electoral Commission on Thursday. The election commission president said final results should be out Saturday, which then must be verified by the constitutional court. More than 900 polling stations expected to open didn’t, impacting nearly 600,000 registered voters, according to the electoral commission. As Kabore’s supporters celebrated, opposition supporters said they’ll accept the results but expect the opposition to hold the ruling party accountable.
Burkina Faso votes amid ongoing extremist violence, threats
Read full article: Burkina Faso votes amid ongoing extremist violence, threatsVoters went to the polls in Burkina Faso on Sunday for the elections that have been marred by ongoing extremist violence in this landlocked West African nation. “The reasons are mainly security and also it’s impossible to find someone to manage the polling stations,” Barry said. Burkina Faso experts say the violence and intimidation show how limited the authorities’ control and legitimacy really are. It’s about the development of Burkina Faso, it’s about peace in our country, so it’s important that each Burkinabe vote,” he said. ___AP reporter Arsene Kabore in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, contributed to this report.
Burkina Faso to vote amid escalating violence
Read full article: Burkina Faso to vote amid escalating violenceSupporters of Burkina Faso President Roch Kabore attend a campaign rally in Bobo-Dioulasso Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. Burkina Faso will go to the polls on Nov. 22, 2020, to vote in presidential and legislative elections marred by ongoing violence. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)OUAGADOUGOU – Burkina Faso will vote in presidential and legislative elections on Sunday, amid escalating extremist violence that’s killed more than 2,000 people this year and displaced some one million people from their homes. Komboigo told the AP that Burkina Faso was in a “catastrophe” and blamed Kabore for being unwilling to pursue a more diplomatic approach with the jihadists. Kabore is expected to be re-elected and needs more than 50% of the vote to win in the first round.
At UN, Africa urges fiscal help against virus 'apocalypse'
Read full article: At UN, Africa urges fiscal help against virus 'apocalypse'In a separate briefing Thursday, a World Health Organization official said just 51% of health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa have basic water services. Health experts say Africa has fared far better than the dire predictions early in the pandemic. Experts say possible factors include Africa’s relative youth, the later arrival of the virus and swift lockdown measures. The council reflects a world order of decades ago that few people in Africa recognize, some said. “Unfortunately," he said, “less than two months later, a fifth horseman of the apocalypse — very destructive, the coronavirus — has appeared.”
Burkina Faso army blamed for extrajudicial torture, deaths
Read full article: Burkina Faso army blamed for extrajudicial torture, deathsOf the dozen men taken from Burkina Fasos eastern town of Tawalbougou in late June on suspicion of supporting Islamic extremist rebels, only five survived, they said. Such accusations of extrajudicial killings, torture and unlawful detention by Burkina Fasos military are mounting, as the ill-equipped and under-trained army scrambles to stem the spread of jihadist violence thats ravaging the country. The allegations of rights abuses highlight the instability caused by the spread of extremist violence in Burkina Faso and the surrounding countries of West Africa's Sahel region. Many of the alleged victims of army abuse in Burkina Faso, like the five interviewed by AP, come from the Peuhl ethnic group, also known as the Fulani. Rights groups say the army is tarnishing its reputation and eroding trust among a desperate population that is facing attacks on multiple fronts.